Gummi- och plastindustri

This test method covers the determination of the low-rate fracture toughness (JIc) of plastics exhibiting a ductile behaviour and characterized by a macroscopically stable crack growth during a fracture test. The application of standard LEFM tests to these materials typically fails due to the excessive non-linearity in the response. This test method, developed for the SEN(B) testing configuration, describes a single-specimen approach that does not require the measurement of Δa. Not intended to provide a method to construct the material JR curve, this test method allows checking a priori the applicability of the multi-specimen approach based on the Δa measurement for the construction of the material JR curve to a ductile polymer with given specimen geometry and dimensions. This is done by referring to a specially developed crack propagation parameter, which is labelled mS.